WASHINGTON, March 30 (UPI) -- The lure of big money in civilian jobs reportedly is thinning the ranks of senior U.S. Special Operations forces when their expertise is needed.
The demand for seasoned Army Green Berets and Navy Seals is highest in Iraq and Afghanistan, where private security jobs can pay as much as four times a military salary, the New York Times said.
Senior members with 20 years or more experience now earn about $50,000 in base pay from the government and can retire with a $23,000 pension. But private security companies are offering salaries of $100,000 to nearly $200,000 a year to the most experienced.
The head of the military's Special Operations Command, Army Gen. Bryan D. Brown, is so concerned, he gathered 20 senior members of the Navy Seals and Army Green Berets and Air Force commandos and their spouses, at his headquarters in Tampa, Fla., last December for a week-long session. They discussed perks such as special pay bonuses and educational benefits, and a special panel is now reviewing those recommendations.
